NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2022 – My Return to the Challenge

 

NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2022 – My return to the Challenge

 

Why FM at Hyderabad? When I decided to run the Hyderabad marathon, and registered for the full distance, the most frequent question I was asked was, Why FM? A very obvious question to be asked, for an event that is known for its rolling hills, four never ending long flyovers and a weather that one can’t be sure of, till you are in it on the D-day. After my only two previous experiences in 2012 (returning from a major injury lay-off), and 2015, I had suffered especially during the second half, walk-jogging painstakingly through it, ending up deciding not to ever return to run this torture again.

While I knew what I was getting into, I also realized that I hadn’t had a clear injury-free training year since my last major run at Mumbai in 2019, and later the pandemic had taken away most opportunities. So having trained till March’22 with mostly easy long mileage weeks, and run the NDM, where I felt I had underperformed, and lost some confidence in the process. The stress of running a marathon with time targets was taxing, and I realized I hadn’t run a single FM for last many years, without worrying for timing. This was one opportunity where the toughness of the route and the elements, would give enough challenge, in which I could just focus on the distance rather than fret about the timing. And the hopes of being able to better my own timing from 7yrs back, had its own promise.

Training for it: I started in right earnest after recovering from NDM in April’22, with easy long runs, and focusing on strength and mobility, with twice a week gym sessions. The weather started to get hot and humid in Delhi. While the speed sessions were done well, doing the tempo sessions, and long runs became a challenge. Runs during the trips to Pune were utilized for hill training, which was much needed, but it could never be done enough. Only hope was that training in bad weather would come handy. A tune up race 3 weeks before the event, in Pune, was a satisfying HM on a hilly route. Taper was disciplined with all boxes ticked till the race day.

Got a champion pacer! Although I knew it was never going to be about BQ timing, I was thrilled when ace marathoner and a dear friend offered to pace me in the second half of the race. Knowing the tough conditions, I realized how helpful it would be to have someone as inspiring as her to run along. My only apprehension being, If I would stay strong enough in those challenging miles to do justice to her company by running strong.   

Hyderabad, the Unpredictable! Reached Friday evening and had a short shake-out run on a cool breezy Saturday morning, as deceptive as it can get. All the pre-race hydration and fueling drills were followed diligently. Race day morning at the start area beside the lake felt humid and the initial 10k loop around the picturesque Hussainsagar lake with Ashish Pande was steady, but gave enough indication of what was waiting ahead. Kavitha was waiting at the end of the loop, and we started immediately after a few pleasantries were exchanged. Then started the series of flyovers and rolling elevations in a very expected pattern, which I had memorized from my earlier run data. I kept my pace steady at a manageable 4:45-5:00 pace with the likelihood of the inevitable fade towards the later half. All went well till the 25k mark after which hell broke loose with legs getting heavier and mind starting to play games. Despite repeated attempts to restart a steady pace, albeit slower, it got more and more difficult to maintain a rhythm, and the dreaded walking breaks got longer. As my pacer politely prodded me to keep running, all I could was shuffle a few steps, before walking again. I knew I had to keep moving and seeing some of the more determined runners overtaking me at this stage, I decided to keep the walks and jogs going, and the spirit high. I knew where I had gone wrong, lessons had been learnt, now all I had to do was to remain alive and strong to finish, and put these lessons to use at a later date.

At the finish, I managed a short sprint (at least what felt like one), thanked and apologized to Kavitha, for having spoilt her long run. I had managed a 3h52min, a 21min improvement over my previous best for the course but much slower than what I felt I could do. A brief recovery routine, stretches and breakfast followed, after which I was back on my way home.

Lessons learnt: Hyderabad marathon will always remain the Everest that will stay till I get stronger to come back and conquer it.  Better training with longer mileage and runs done in hot weather would be needed. A slower start, a more conservative first half, and stronger second half would be possible with better hydration, fueling and mental resolve. I know I can do better, and I will return on a better day, better prepared.

My gains from the race: Happy with an injury free run and looking forward to recovering well to start training again putting all these lessons to good use and approaching TMM’22 with a renewed confidence. Having bettered my previous best here, gives me the much needed boost to get better. Afterall, nothing can get worse than this.

NMDC Hyderabd Marathon’22 experience: The event, as it is reputed for, was impeccably organized, improved remarkably from its earlier editions, well-managed aid stations, cheering and entertainment zones and noise tunnels made by cheering kids. The picturesque and challenging course needs the marathoner in me to come back and strive to do better.